OU Kosher Staff

OU Position on Certifying Specific Animals and Birds

Daf Notes: The following article is taken from the soon to be published Sourcebook of the Three Day Harry H. Beren LA Halachic Adventure which is to take place Bs’d August 5-7. We thank Rabbi Seth Mandel and Rabbi Chaim Loike for their efforts in transcribing Rav Yisroel Belsky Shlita’s response concerning the specific animals and birds listed below.

OU Recommendations for Vaad HaKashrus Supervision

A position paper presented by Rabbi Yaakov Luban, OU Executive Rabbinic Coordinator at the ASK OU-RCA Yom Iyun held at OU Headquarters, NYC, May 1, 2007.

Kashering from a Davar Gush II

I was recently present for the kashering of a cheese plant. The cheese is first heated in a large vat (kli rishon) and then transported via strainers into an unjacketed mixer vat. Since this second vat has no independent source of heat, the product that is poured into the vat is considered to be an irui kli rishon of cham litoch tzonen. However, since the consistency of the cheese at this stage is that of a semi solid, it is likely that we should view this cheese as a davar gush. How do we kasher the mixer that had an irui of a hot davar gush, and the pipes that continue on from there?

Cholov Yisroel Ricotta Production/First Exclusively-OU Cholov Yisroel Product Ever

On Sunday evening, November 25th, I joined Dr. Simcha Katz, Chairman of the OU’s Joint Kashrus Commission, Rabbi Avrohom Juravel, head of OU Kashrus Technical Services, and a group of senior OU Kashrus staff for a special kashering and production at a well-established ricotta cheese company. The evening’s protocol was to kasher the cheese facility’s cholov stam equipment and to supervise an overnight production of cholov Yisroel ricotta for an OU-certified ‘heimishe‘ manufacturer of upscale Italian specialty products.

Glycerine and Detergent Issues

1) For those RFR’s whose plants need Kosher for Passover Glycerine be advised that Procter & Gamble is now producing a non-Passover Glycerine that is named: Superol Kosher Glycerine not for Passover (KNP). This product is now being sold bulk, and will soon be sold in drums also. 2) The OU certifies some glycerine and […]

Identifying Opportunities in the U.S. Food Market: A Seminar for Trade Consulates

Presented by The Food Institute & The Orthodox Union; A Seminar for Trade Consulates

OU Kosher to Send Experts to Smaller Communities

OU Kosher today announced an exciting and much-needed new initiative to respond to the kashrut needs and questions of Jewish communities throughout North America, particularly of smaller ones distant from major Jewish metropolitan areas.

OU Sends Free Kosher Kidz Video to Jewish Schools

Here is a recipe for a tasty video that has just been released by OU Kosher:

OU Kosher Coming to Yeshiva for a Day: Edmonton, Canada

OU Kosher is No Laughing Matter (So why am I still laughing three days later?)

Rabbis Stone and Bendelstein of OU Kosher were invited to visit the frozen chosen of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for a full-day seminar on December 25, 2007. I can’t help but imagine what they were thinking coming here. Is Edmonton really a frozen wasteland? Do we live in igloos and use dogsleds for transportation? You must be kidding – Edmonton in December?

U.S. News & World Report: Is Kosher Food Safer?

Not only Jews look for the kosher symbol on food these days. In a surprising turn of events, “kosher” has become the most popular claim on new food products, trouncing “organic” and “no additives or preservatives,” according to a recent report. A noteworthy 4,719 new kosher items were launched in the United States last year—nearly double the number of new “all natural” products, which placed second in the report, issued last month by Mintel, a Chicago-based market research firm.